Coconut Matcha Latte

Matcha is THE wellness product du jour, with everyone singing its praises; and trust me, I’m not here to disagree. Instead I’m going to tell you WHY you should love matcha and HOW you can make it taste good.

WHY DRINK MATCHA?

Matcha green tea is the king sh*t of green tea, supplying sustained energy levels, unlike coffee which can bring you up really fast and drop you with the same sense of urgency; which ends up meaning drinking more coffee. However, the mighty matcha is a slow burn, meaning you get sustained, non jittery energy that will keep you lifted without it being too extra.

BUT THERE’S MORE...matcha’s high antioxidant content means that, though, we may not always make the best food/drink choices and lack of sleep is, at times, worn as a badge of honour (which oxidize and stress out our cells), but with matcha the antioxidants help to protect us. Good lookin’ out Matcha ;)

And unlike other tea varieties where you steep the leaves and remove them, matcha is ground meaning the leaves are consumed

Natural energy. Antioxidants. Fibre. Matcha is the total package.

HOW TO PREPARE MATCHA

First of all, matcha is more than a drink, it’s a powder so it can be mixed into anything. You’ll see cheesecakes, muffins, puddings- hell I’ve even seen pretzels- that are matcha infused; but the important thing to remember about cooking ANYTHING is you can always add but you cannot remove, and this rings very true with something as boldly flavoured as matcha.

So WHAT DOES MATCHA TASTE LIKE?

Describing flavour is easy to do when there is a comparison to draw, “ it’s like a really bitter lime” or “it’s like dark meat chicken”, which is why matcha is hard to describe. That said I think most lovers of matcha can agree the flavour is complex, yet rich at the same time; aromatic and inviting but astringent when used heavy handedly. I would also say that matcha leaves a kind of sweetness on your tongue post-drinking, that can only be described as vegetal with a sweet-ish aftertaste. So you see what I mean...matcha is hard to describe.

HOW TO BUY MATCHA

You may look at the price of some matcha with great sticker shock, potentially leading you to a cheaper priced product; but I want to caution you against this, ESPECIALLY if you plan to omit the honey from the recipe (that follows), because with matcha you reaaaaally get what you pay for. Am I saying you need to break the bank to enjoy the benefits of matcha? No. But I am saying don’t get the cheap stuff either.

HOW TO DRINK MATCHA

All this to say, if you are new to matcha it’s best to start with easy, and the easiest way to begin enjoying matcha is in a latte. This recipe is fail safe because each component highlights the best parts of the matcha. Cinnamon and vanilla are what demystify the matcha to your taste buds, while the creamy coconut milk balances out the, sometimes, astringent flavour. Fall and Winter drink this warm. Spring and Summer serve over ice. No matter when you happen upon this post, KNOW THIS, his is a recipe that will ALWAYS be in season.

Simple and Delicious Matcha Latte

1 cup coconut milk

1/2 cup water

1 tsp matcha powder

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp coconut oil

2 tsp raw honey

In a pot bring the coconut milk, water, coconut oil, cinnamon and honey to a boil. Reduce heat and sift in the matcha powder and use a whisk to incorporate. And serve hot. Or cool and pour over ice.